Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Holy See’s Under-Secretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri discussed the relationship between the two sides during their meeting in Hanoi on Tuesday.

Antoine Camilleri led a delegation from the Holy See to attend the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group on Wednesday, according to the Vietnam News Agency.

During the conversation, the Vietnamese premier praised the positive exchanges between Vietnam and the Holy See over the past years.

He believed that the seventh meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group would mark important progress in the relations between Vietnam and the Holy See, satisfying the common interests of both sides as well as those of the Vietnamese Catholic community.

The Vietnamese government will continue promoting national solidarity, respecting and ensuring the rights to freedom of belief and religion of all people, PM Phuc said, adding he appreciated the active and effective contributions of the Vietnamese Catholic community to national development.

The government’s policy encourages and facilitates the operation of all religions, including Catholicism, in line with legal regulations, he added.

He urged the Holy See to continue its work on guiding the Vietnamese Catholic community to engage in national development, contributing to promoting the image of the Vietnam Catholic Church and fostering Vietnam-Holy See relations.

Replying to his host, Under-Secretary Camilleri asserted that Pope Francis and the Holy See are looking to further develop bilateral relations and encourage Catholic followers in Vietnam to actively contribute to the country’s development.

The Pope always pays special attention to Vietnam and wishes that the Vietnam Catholic Church will make more contributions to national prosperity.

He thanked the Vietnamese government for creating favorable conditions for the non-resident Vatican representatives to work in the country, expressing his belief that the two sides will witness new developments in their relations.

Many sewers along the streets in Ho Chi Minh City have their entrances blocked by garbage on a regular basis, negatively impacting urban esthetics and the environment while helping cause serious flooding.

Despite the sweltering weather in Hanoi these days, many young people still flock to lotus ponds surrounding the capital city’s iconic Ho Tay (West Lake) to pose for Instgram-ready photos with a sea of blooming flowers.